A circular economy keeps resources in use for as long as possible, preserving their value and minimising waste. Effective collection and recovery systems and practices ensure recovered materials can be reused at their highest value.
Why it matters
Securing high-quality recovered resources as feedstock for high-value recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions, saves energy and water, and maximises the environmental and economic benefits of materials across municipal, commercial, and construction waste streams.
Objectives for 2030
Support a circular economy through the application of best practice waste management and resource recovery that:
- maximises the safe recovery of recyclable materials
- provides for separation of materials as close as possible to the point of generation
- minimises contamination of recyclable materials
- maximises recycling efficiency at all stages (collection, preprocessing – including separation and sorting – and end processing) to reduce material losses
- enables the safe and beneficial use of recycled materials, achieves the highest value reuse, and does not pose a risk of environmental harm.
How we’ll get there
Legislative and policy enablers
Key actions
- Progress legislative reform to require consideration of circular economy principles in EPA decision-making to preserve material value and their continued circulation in the economy.
- Consider legislative reform to support staged implementation of 3-bin kerbside collection systems for SA households in metropolitan Adelaide, then to large regional centres and townships where appropriate.
- Investigate legislative and policy reform to support the implementation of best practice waste management in residential and mixed-use developments as part of the planning and design process.
- Consider legislative reform requiring mandatory source separation and collection of recyclables and organic waste for commercial and industrial businesses in metropolitan Adelaide, commencing with large waste-generating businesses.
- Progress legislative measures to prevent inappropriate recombining of separately collected and aggregated waste and resource recovered materials.
- Progress legislative reform to:
- enable EPA regulatory decision-making to support recovered resources being used at their highest value, to achieve high circularity outcomes
- support the safe circulation of materials, where low-risk recovered materials can continue circulating, high-risk wastes are regulated, and high-concern chemicals are eliminated from material cycles.
- Regulate to ensure that any energy recovery activities aren’t removing valuable materials from the economy (that is, there are no other higher value use options available for those materials).
- Maximise the effectiveness and performance of SA’s container deposit scheme.
Municipal solid waste
South Australia needs a step-change in kerbside services, with consistent 3-bin systems, standardised bin colours, and improved infrastructure for multi-unit dwellings to make recycling easier for households and reduce contamination of kerbside collected materials.
Key actions
- Contribute to national harmonisation of kerbside collections.
- Support the roll-out of public place recycling and organics bins in suitable places alongside general waste bins.
- Adopt Australian Standard 4123.5-2008 Mobile waste containers for all new and replacement kerbside bins.
- Ensure local and regional waste and resource recovery plans align with the goals of the circular economy and set diversion or recovery targets.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) waste
Increasing source separation and collection of recyclable materials, while reducing contamination in commercial and industrial waste streams improves the quality and quantity of feedstock for high-value recycling.
Key actions
- Adopt Australian Standard 4123.5-2008 Mobile waste for all new C&I mobile waste containers with capacities up to 1,700L.
- Support businesses to increase source segregation of waste and reduce contamination.
- Progress legislative reform to prohibit disposal to landfill of C&I source segregated and collected organics.
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste
Increasing source separation of C&D waste and unused materials on construction sites can improve the quality of recovered materials, supporting highest-value reuse and high-quality recycling outcomes.
Key action
- Promote segregation of materials on building sites to increase waste diversion of uncontaminated materials.
Landfill bans
Banning additional products or materials that have a pathway for resource recovery and recycling from being disposed to landfill will help keep valuable materials circulating through the economy.
Key action
- Consider and implement additional landfill bans for products or valuable materials that have a pathway for resource recovery and recycling.
Resource recovery infrastructure
Waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs to meet existing requirements and accommodate future requirements, considering capacity and capability as well as new and emerging waste streams.
Key actions
- Invest in high-performing resource recovery systems and infrastructure that support material flows and high value beneficial outcomes.
- Advocate for product stewardship schemes to establish and maintain accessible and convenient community drop-off points for the products and materials included in the scheme, and promote their use.
- Support development of solutions for high-quality waste sorting and contaminant removal.
- Develop a new circular economy and resource recovery infrastructure plan.
- Future-proof the operations of new and existing waste and resource recovery facilities by managing the interface and the encroachment of incompatible land uses.
Metropolitan Adelaide
Although all metropolitan Adelaide councils provide 3-bin kerbside services, incorrect use and contamination persist, and 2025 diversion targets have not been met.
Achieving 2030 diversion and contamination targets will require broader adoption of sustainable kerbside service models supported by effective community education and targeted assistance at the household level (where required).
Key actions
- Implement the SA Better Practice Guide: Sustainable Kerbside Services and apply best practice segregated 3-bin waste management systems for medium and high density dwellings where buildings meet council’s service parameters.
- Investigate options to enable a reduction in contamination rates in kerbside organics and recycling bins.
- Support the reduction of contamination rates in kerbside organics and recycling bins.
Regional SA
Regional South Australia faces unique waste management challenges – such as distance, dispersed populations, high transport costs, and problematic agricultural wastes – making a one-size-fits-all approach unsuitable.
By developing place-based solutions, investing in regional resource recovery infrastructure and end markets, and collaborating on regional circular economy roadmaps, councils can improve material recovery, build local skills, and create regional jobs.
Key actions
- Work with regional councils to develop a regional-specific SA Better Practice Guide: Sustainable Kerbside Services, and implement the guide in large regional centres and townships where 3-bin kerbside systems are provided.
- Identify examples of innovative, practical and cost-effective approaches, and support development of guidance for low density regional and remote residential areas where 3-bin systems aren’t appropriate.
- Investigate the development of regional circular economy, resource recovery and processing infrastructure.
- Support the development of regional circular economy roadmaps and place-based solutions that achieve circular outcomes in regional areas.
Outback SA and remote Aboriginal communities
Remote and Outback SA communities face unique waste challenges due to limited local infrastructure, high transport costs, difficult end markets, and tourism-related waste. Localised strategies can help identify and deliver place-based solutions tailored to these conditions.
Key actions
- Improve waste management in Outback SA through:
- improving management of unlicenced landfills
- implementing more user pays household waste collection services
- trialling innovative and fit for purpose technologies for waste management in communities where household waste collection services will not be viable.
- Improve management (including responsible visitor communications) of tourist waste in Outback SA.
- Advocate for, and contribute to, the development of a nationally regulated product stewardship scheme for end-of life-tyres to improve their collection and disposal in Outback SA, preventing stockpiling and reducing the associated health, environmental and emergency risks.
- Progress interim measures to improve the management of end-of-life tyres in remote areas.
- Build capacity and increase access to resource recovery and waste management infrastructure for outback communities, including:
- establishing resource recovery centres in strategic locations
- improving waste and recycling collection and transport services.
- In collaboration and partnership with First Nations peoples, support the development of a waste strategy for remote Aboriginal communities that identifies local solutions for sustainable waste management and resource recovery practices, builds local capacity and includes awareness raising activities.
Learn more about Focus area 3: Reduce material loss and preserve value.
